Stick with push roller and rotatable guide wheels for pushing a grooved disc

ABSTRACT

A disc game to be played between opposing players along the lines of hockey or Lacrosse comprising a disc having an annular circumferential groove in the rim thereof and a handle-guide assembly for driving and controlling the disc. One end of the handle assembly has two free-running guide wheels having inward facing opposed beveled surface portions and a pushing roller, also free-running, located in between the guide wheels. The beveled guide wheels are spaced apart an amount slightly greater than the disc thickness to facilitate the capture of the disc between the guide wheels and to enable the disc to either be passed to another player having a similar driving stick or to again set the disc into motion.

United States Patent 91 Ghovanloo [451 Jan. 15, 1974 STICK WITH PUSH ROLLER AND ROTATABLE GUIDE WHEELS FOR PUSHING A GROOVED DISC [76] Inventor: Massud K. Ghovanloo, 241

Shoreward Dr., Great Neck, N.Y.

[22] Filed: May 15, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 253,505

[52] US. Cl. 273/126 R, 46/220, 273/129 [51] Int. Cl A63h 33/02 [58] Field of Search 46/114, 205, 220; 273/108, 126, 129

[56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 2,983,073 5/1961 Daniels 46/204 2,811,812 11/1957 Bishop 46/220 2,970,403 2/1961 Land 46/220 2,979,860 4/1961 Barta 46/220 3,003,766 10/1961 Stanton 273/108 3,099,105 7/1963 Martinez 46/220 X 3,464,149 9/1969 Batterson et al 46/1 14 PrimaryExaminer-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Harry G. Strappello Attorney-Richard E. Klein [5 7 ABSTRACT A disc game to be played between opposing players along the lines of hockey or Lacrosse comprising a disc having an annular circumferential groove in the rim thereof and a handle-guide assembly for driving and controlling the disc. One end of the handle assembly has two free-running guide wheels having inward facing opposed beveled surface portions and a pushing roller, also free-running, located in between the guide wheels. The beveled guide wheels are spaced apart an amount slightly greater than the disc thickness to facilitate the capture of the disc between the guide wheels and to enable the disc to either be passed to another player having a similar driving stick or to again set the disc into motion.

8 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures STICK WITH PUSH ROLLER AND ROTATABLE GUIDE WHEELS FOR PUSHING A GROOVED DISC BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION For well over one hundred years, children have played with a game comprising a stick and hoop or wheel, whereby the stick was used to strike the periphery of the hoop or wheel to propel it over a plane surface. This required the child to run along beside the hoop or wheel and slap it with a stick. Variations of this game included more sophisticated driving devices such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,619,942 or U.S. Pat. No. 3,575,416. These devices were used to control the hoop or wheel from the rear or various positions alongside. Other variations have been designed to provide the child'with more control over the hoop, and example of this is the magnetic arrangement disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,099,105.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The game comprises a hoop or wheel having an annular circumferential groove in the rim thereof and a handle assembly having, one end, two free-running guide wheels having inward facing opposed beveled surface portions, and a pushing roller, also free-running, located in between said guide wheels. The beveled guide wheels are spaced apart an amount equal to or slightly greater than .the disc or wheel thickness to facilitate the capture of the wheel for disc between the guide wheels and to enable the disc or wheel to either be passed to another player having a similar driving stick or to again set the disc or wheel into motion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a disc and driving de vice constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross section view of the driving device illustrated in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. I, the numeral designates a disc or hoop, hereinafter referred to as a disc adapted to be rolled over a plane surface. The disc has an annular groove 11 located along its outer periphery. As shown more clearly in FIG. 2, the groove is relatively shallow, and is used to provide a smooth running surface for the pushing roller described in the next paragraph. The outer periphery of the disc may be formed integrally therewith as shown or may be formed from a different material such as rubber or other resilient material to achieve a desired playing characteristic. In the preferred embodiment the outer periphery of the disc is provided with a textured surface to avoid slippage on a smooth playing surface.

The handle and guide wheel assembly used in combination with the disc 10 is identified in FIG. 1 by reference numeral 12. The assembly 12 consists of a handle portion 13 which fits into a handle holder 14.

The guide wheel portion of Assembly 12 is shown assembled in FIG. 2. Beveled freerunning guide wheels 15 and 16 are rotatably attached to handle holder 14 by means of the bolt washer and nut assembly 18, 19 and 21 respectively. The guide wheels 15 and 16 are provided with hub portions for reinforcement purposes, and with beveled portions on their inner faces forming a V-shaped entrance for receiving the disc 10.

The minimum spacing between the guide wheels is slightly greater than the thickness of the disc 10. A

pushing roller 17 is centrally located between the guide wheels 15 and 16, being positioned within a slot 22 in the handle holder 14. The bolt 18 passes through the center of the pushing roller 17, which freely rotates thereon. The pushing roller 17 has cross sectional width less than that of the annular groove 1 1 located on the periphery of disc 10. Both the surface of the pushing roller 17 and the bottom of the annular groove 11 are smooth to reduce the friction there which might impede the driving of the disc. Pushing roller 17 is made to project beyond handle holder 14 a distance sufficient to allow the handle holder surface to avoid contact with the outer periphery of disc 10.

Both the disc and handle assembly may be constructed of wood, plastic or metal materials. The disc, however, should be of sufficient weight to provide rolling stability during the playing of the game. The thickness and weight of the disc 10, together with the spacing of guide wheels 15 and 16 may be varied to achieve desired playing characteristics. The inertia of the rolling disc and the snugness of its fit between the guide wheels will determine the degree of control a user may have during play.

OPERATION A single disc and handle assembly maybe used by an individual as a toy or exercising device. The handle assembly I2 is used to maintain the disc 10 in motion over a flat surface. Because of the spacing and the beveling of the guide wheels 15 and 16, the disc 10 may easily be captured by the handle and driving assembly 12. Upon capture the disc may be held within the guide wheels and rolled along a plane surface or set into independent motion by a quick forward thrust of the handle assembly. Thus an individual has the option of using the assembly to propel the disc ahead of him or using the assembly to push the disc along the level surface while keeping it contained between the guide wheels, or stopping it. I

The device is particularly intended to be used by two or more persons, or by teams. In that usage the disc 10 is propelled along a level surface to another individual also equipped with a similar handle and guide assembly 12. The assembly 12 is then used to first catch the rolling disc and then to either capture the disc while it is being pushed along the plane surface or to pass the disc on to another player. Before the disc is passed its direction of motion can easily be changed since the disc is held captured within the guide wheels 15 and 16. This combination of disc and handle and guide assembly would be particularly suited for games resembling hockey or Lacrosse.

While a single embodiment of the present invention has been described and shown in detail, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art to modify the invention without departing from the teachings contained herein. It is therefore to be understood that all matter is to be interpreted merely asillustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

l. A game comprising a disc having diameter, 'thickness, an axis of rotation and a peripheral edge with an annular groove around said edge facing radially outward, said groove having predetermined width in the axial direction, and a guide assembly comprising a handle having a longitudinal first axis with a first and second ends spaced along said axis, a roller rotatably mounted on said second end about a second axis transverse of said first axis, said roller having thickness at least slightly less than said groove width, a pair of guide wheels rotatably mounted on said second axis, said wheels spaced apart a distance at least slightly greater than said disc thickness with said roller positioned intermediate said wheels, whereby said handle can be positioned to have its guide wheels on both sides of the disc and the roller contacting said groove in the discs peripheral edge, for guiding the disc to roll.

2. A game according to claim 1 wherein said guide wheels have adjacent inner faces with peripheral edges beveled to form a V in sectional view, whereby the distance between said bevelled edges is greater than the distance between said inner faces.

3. A game according to claim 1 wherein said roller has a peripheral edge facing radially outward, said roller edge being smooth to minimize friction during contact with said discs peripheral edge.

4. A game according to claim 1 wherein said disc has sufficient weight to provide inertial stability when it is rolled.

5. A game according to claim 1 wherein said disc is rolled on a playing surface, the game further comprising means on said peripheral edge of the disc for providing frictional engagement with said playing surface when the disc is rolled thereon.

6. A game according to claim 1 wherein said second end of the handle comprises a yoke having spacedapart arms and an axle extending through said arms, said roller being rotatably mounted on said axle between the arms, and one guide wheel rotatably mounted on the axle outward of each arm.

7. A game according to claim 6 wherein said guide wheels each have a diameter substantially greater than the roller diameter.

8. A game according to claim 1 wherein said guide wheels each have a diameter substantially greater than the roller diameter. 

1. A game comprising a disc having diameter, thickness, an axis of rotation and a peripheral edge with an annular groove around said edge facing radially outward, said groove having predetermined width in the axial direction, and a guide assembly comprising a handle having a longitudinal first axis with a first and second ends spaced along said axis, a roller rotatably mounted on said second end about a second axis transverse of said first axIs, said roller having thickness at least slightly less than said groove width, a pair of guide wheels rotatably mounted on said second axis, said wheels spaced apart a distance at least slightly greater than said disc thickness with said roller positioned intermediate said wheels, whereby said handle can be positioned to have its guide wheels on both sides of the disc and the roller contacting said groove in the disc''s peripheral edge, for guiding the disc to roll.
 2. A game according to claim 1 wherein said guide wheels have adjacent inner faces with peripheral edges beveled to form a V in sectional view, whereby the distance between said bevelled edges is greater than the distance between said inner faces.
 3. A game according to claim 1 wherein said roller has a peripheral edge facing radially outward, said roller edge being smooth to minimize friction during contact with said disc''s peripheral edge.
 4. A game according to claim 1 wherein said disc has sufficient weight to provide inertial stability when it is rolled.
 5. A game according to claim 1 wherein said disc is rolled on a playing surface, the game further comprising means on said peripheral edge of the disc for providing frictional engagement with said playing surface when the disc is rolled thereon.
 6. A game according to claim 1 wherein said second end of the handle comprises a yoke having spaced-apart arms and an axle extending through said arms, said roller being rotatably mounted on said axle between the arms, and one guide wheel rotatably mounted on the axle outward of each arm.
 7. A game according to claim 6 wherein said guide wheels each have a diameter substantially greater than the roller diameter.
 8. A game according to claim 1 wherein said guide wheels each have a diameter substantially greater than the roller diameter. 